The First Humans and Early Human Evolution

The earliest stages of human evolution began in Africa 3-4 million years ago with the emergence of early hominids. This period saw the development of increasingly sophisticated hominid species, culminating in Homo sapiens sapiens.

Key developments:

• Australopithecines flourished 3-4 million years ago, creating the first simple stone tools
• Homo habilis emerged around 2 million years ago with larger brains
• Homo erectus appeared 1.5 million years ago and spread beyond Africa
• Homo sapiens evolved around 250,000 years ago
• Neanderthals existed from 200,000-30,000 BCE before going extinct
• By 10,000 BCE, Homo sapiens sapiens had spread globally

Vocabulary: Hominids - The group of primates that includes humans and our extinct close relatives

The Paleolithic Age (2.5 million - 10,000 BCE) was characterized by:

• Hunter-gatherer lifestyles in small nomadic groups
• Increasingly sophisticated stone tools
• Cave paintings with possible religious significance
• Relative gender equality between men and women

Highlight: The Paleolithic saw the development of human culture, with evidence of art, religion, and social structures emerging

Civilization in Mesopotamia

The Mesopotamian civilization developed in the fertile valley between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, relying on large-scale irrigation for agriculture.

Key features of early Mesopotamian city-states:

• Founded by Sumerians around 3000 BCE
• Surrounded by defensive walls made of sun-dried mud bricks
• Dominated by large temple complexes called ziggurats
• Governed as theocracies, with priests holding significant power

Vocabulary: Ziggurat - A terraced pyramid temple characteristic of ancient Mesopotamian architecture

The Sumerian city-states eventually gave rise to larger empires:

1. Sargon's Akkadian Empire (c. 2334-2154 BCE)

   • Based on military conquest
   • Eventually fell to attacks from neighboring peoples

2. Hammurabi's Babylonian Empire (1792-1750 BCE)

   • Unified Mesopotamia through strategic conquest
   • Famous for Hammurabi's law code, a collection of 282 laws

Highlight: Hammurabi's law code is one of the earliest known examples of codified law, providing insight into Mesopotamian society and governance

Mesopotamian culture was characterized by:

• Polytheistic religion with gods associated with natural forces
• Development of cuneiform writing system
• Advances in mathematics, including a base-60 number system
• Lunar calendar of 12 months

Example: The Mesopotamian number system's base-60 is still reflected in our modern measures of time, with 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour

This summary provides an overview of early human history and the rise of Mesopotamian civilization, highlighting key developments in human evolution, agriculture, and early urban societies. The Mesopotamia civilization timeline spans from the Neolithic period to the rise of the first empires, showcasing the region's crucial role in the development of human civilization.